NEW WELL

The City of Ritzville, long faced with a system of wells that struggle to function properly, has commenced construction on a new well near its current water storage tank on the Ritzville Municipal Golf Course. Schneider Equipment & Drilling of St. Paul, Ore., won the bid to drill the new well for $1,075,536.36. The new well will feature a 20-inch casing, be drilled to a depth of 1,500 feet and is expected to deliver 2,000 gallons per minute. The contract calls for a 160-day timeline, completed on Oct. 5. After completion, the city will still need to install the permanent pump and construct the well house. -Journal photo by Stephen McFadden